Indonesia's Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf promotes Sekolah Rakyat schools in Riau and North Sulawesi

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf visited the Sekolah Rakyat (People's School) open house in Pekanbaru, Riau, greeting hundreds of parents and prospective students. He noted that the program, now operating 166 sites with more than 15,000 students, aims to reach over 45,000 this year. A permanent building for a new school in Kuantan Singingi, expected to house 1,000 pupils, is 80 % complete, with a goal for each regency or city to have its own facility. The initiative is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s strategy to serve the poorest families.

The minister later toured Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama 21 in Manado, North Sulawesi, where he praised a wushu performance and other student showcases, describing the displays as evidence of growing confidence and physical fitness. He emphasized that the program offers free, quality education to children from families in the lowest economic deciles, supporting the President’s effort to break the cycle of poverty. Local officials and parents attended, expressing gratitude for the opportunity the schools provide.